At the Arizona Air National Guard/162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, overhead lines transfer fluids from bulk storage tanks. Cardboard is collected in bins for recycling.

The following military maintenance facilities took part in the Green Auto Shops pilot program:

• Luke Air Force Base
• Phoenix Air National Guard/161st Air Refueling Wing
• Tucson Air National Guard/162nd Fighter Wing
• Yuma Marine Corps Air Station

Luke Air Force Base

Luke AFB is the largest Fighter Wing in the Air Force and is home to over 180 F-16 aircraft. Each year, about 450 new F-16 pilots are trained. The 15-bay vehicle repair shop services about 550 motor vehicles as well as an additional 150 support vehicles, ranging from passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks and electric carts.

Green practices at this facility include:

• Skylights with sensors turn low-mercury fluorescent lights on and off as needed to conserve energy.
• In the paint colorant mixing room, just enough paint for the job is blended in small quantities of a half pint or less to reduce waste.
• Products are tested to extend their shelf life when possible instead of routine disposal by date.
• A control panel minimizes energy use by automatically turning evaporative coolers, ventilation, and other energy-intensive systems on or off as needed.
• Paint thinner waste has been reduced by 90% by using a closed loop filter system to remove particles and reuse the liquid.

Phoenix Arizona Air National Guard/161st Air Refueling Wing

The 161st Refueling Wing flies KC135 refueling planes. The auto/truck maintenance and repair shop has four bays and services a fleet of over 150 vehicles. The bay for servicing 6,000 gallon jet fuel tanker trucks is located in a separate area.

Green practices at this facility include:

• An aqueous parts washer, made of stainless steel to prevent corrosion, eliminates the need for solvents.
• Hand-held refillable and pressurized cans are used for spot parts and brake cleaning.
• A holding system for air-conditioning refrigerant is used during maintenance for collection and reuse.
• Wheeled stations provide quick response to leaks or spills.

Tucson Arizona Air National Guard/162nd Fighter Wing

The 162nd Fighter Wing consists of three F-16 fighter squadrons with more than 80 aircraft. The vehicle repair shop is a seven bay facility that services more than 120 vehicles, including autos, trucks, cranes, fire trucks, fork lifts and other support vehicles.

Green practices at this site include:

• Portable oil caddies collect used oil drained from vehicles. The caddies are drained into a used oil sink, where a compressed-air pump transfers the used oil to a tank. Metal oil filter casings are crushed and recycled.
• Absorbent pads that soak up used oil and anti-freeze are stored in drums with lids that can be secured.
• Plastic curtains are used to contain metal dust from brake lathing and machining operations.
• An all-electric rotary lift with a screw drive has eliminated the need for hydraulic oil.

Yuma Marine Corps Air Station

MCAS is the busiest air station in the Marine Corps. Its primary mission is to support aerial weapons training and to serve as a base of operations. The vehicle maintenance and repair operation has four bays to service a fleet of more than 400 motor vehicles, plus three bays for heavy equipment. Vehicles range from passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks, buses, forklifts, cranes, graders, farm tractors and electric carts.

Green practices at this site include:

• Strategically placed skylights effectively illuminate work areas while conserving electricity.
• Power steering fluid is filtered thru this exchanger and then returned to the vehicle after servicing is completed.
• Hydraulic lifts are located aboveground and sealed to prevent hydraulic oil leaks.
• Equipment is in place to recover and reuse refrigerants on site. An aqueous detergent-based brake washer replaces cleaning solvents.

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